Cedarville University is first in Ohio to allow concealed guns on campus

Updated May 9, 2017 at 5:37 PM;Posted May 9, 2017 at 5:30 PM

Cedarville University

Cedarville University in Southwest Ohio is the first college or university in the state to allow concealed handguns on campus. A new policy allows full-time employees to carry handguns on campus beginning Aug. 1.
(Cedarville University)

The private university east of Dayton is the first in Ohio to allow concealed guns since a new state law gave colleges and universities the choice. The board of trustees voted Friday to allow full-time faculty and staff members who are licensed to carry concealed handguns by the state to do so on campus.

University President Thomas White said school officials consulted with law enforcement and attorneys and got input from employees through a town hall meeting and surveys.

Board of Trustees Chairman Rev. Chip Bernhard said the decision was the right one for Cedarville, a Baptist institution that enrolls 3,760 undergraduate, graduate and online students.

"The board discussed this matter, and in our determination, we believed it was important to allow our conscientious faculty and staff to have the opportunity to exercise their second amendment rights, and, if necessary, to defend themselves should an incident arise in the future," Bernhard said in a news release. "It is our prayer, of course, that no one is ever forced to take this type of action."

Only 8 percent of faculty and staff members surveyed by the university did not want anyone to carry a concealed firearm on campus.

The Cedars newspaper conducted its own student survey: 51.3 percent favored concealed carry on campus, 11.3 percent opposed it and 36 percent said it should be allowed with limitations.

A statement released by the university said the policy will strengthen Cedarville's reputation as "one of the safest college campuses in Ohio."